But friends and foes are necessary for a war, and Holland's heroic courage required Spaniards to prove it.

The youngsters grew excited, the cheeks of the disputants began to flush, here and there clenched fists were raised, and everything indicated that a horrible civil war would precede the battle to be given the foes of the country.
In truth, these lively boys were ill-suited to play the part of King Philip's gloomy, stiff-necked soldiers.

Amid the many fair heads, few lads were seen with brown locks, and only one with black hair and dark eyes.

This was Adam Baersdorp, whose father, like Van der Werff's, was one of the leaders of the citizens.

When he too refused to act a Spaniard, one of the boys exclaimed: "You won't?
Yet my father says your father is half a Glipper,--[The name given in Holland to those who sympathized with Spain]--and a whole Papist to boot." At these words young Baersdorp threw his books on the ground, and was rushing with upraised fist upon his enemy--but Adrian Van der Werff hastily interposed, crying: "For shame, Cornelius .-- I'll stop the mouth of anybody who utters such an insult again.